Trackhouse boss Justin Marks reacts to 'bittersweet' exit of Connor Zilisch
20-year-old NASCAR Cup Series rookie Connor Zilisch has signed a multi-year deal with Hendrick Motorsports, beginning in 2028. He will pilot the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet and leave Trackhouse Racing in the rearview. His current team hired Zilisch in January of 2024, and has been his only home since joining the Cup Series. "It's a bittersweet moment for Trackhouse, but I am truly happy for Connor ...…
Connor Zilisch, a 20-year-old NASCAR Cup Series rookie, has signed a multi-year deal with Hendrick Motorsports, effective from 2028. He will drive the No. 48 Ally Chevrolet and leave Trackhouse Racing behind. Trackhouse had hired Zilisch in January 2024, and he has been with the team since then.
Justin Marks, founder of Trackhouse Racing, expressed his mixed feelings about Zilisch's departure. He acknowledged that it was their aspiration to have Zilisch in their cars for the long term, but he remains enthusiastic about the opportunities available to him now and in 2027.
Zilisch is set to win Rookie of the Year honors in 2026, after a challenging rookie season in 2025, which included eight DNFs, just one top ten (a seventh at Sonoma), and a 34th-place ranking among 35 full-time drivers. Trackhouse has been facing difficulties this year, with Ross Chastain struggling and failing to secure a Chase spot, while Zilisch's performance hasn't been impressive either.
The future of the third seat at Trackhouse Racing is uncertain. The team started as a single-car operation in 2021, expanded to two cars after acquiring Chip Ganassi Racing, and added Shane van Gisbergen in 2022. Zilisch replaced Suarez in 2026, and the current contracts for Chastain and Van Gisbergen expire after the 2027 season.
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